 Love Jihad is a term used by some radical groups to describe relationships between Muslim men and Hindu women. The concept is based on a conspiracy theory that Muslim men lure Hindu women to convert them to Islam. Interfaith marriages have been banned based on forced conversions in Uttar Pradesh, the most prominent Indian State. Photo Courtesy: SKG Photography Imagine a secular and liberal democracy where family friends belonging to different genders cannot travel together, because this act depicts them as committing a crime in the eyes of the law.
According to reports by Indian media, three members of Vishwa Hindu Paresh, a Hindutva organization and an important member of Sangh Parivar, dragged a Muslim man and his Hindu traveling companion out of a train, accusing the former of 'love jihad.' The Love Jihad conspiracy theory transformed into an anti-conversion law against Muslims in India. Hindutva followers enjoy impunity to humiliate, beat, and drag passengers to the police station. Love Jihad is the name given by BJP-affiliated organizations called Sangh Parivar, to fabricate the conspiracy that Muslim men “lure” Hindu women to convert them to Islam. Interfaith marriages have been banned practically on the accusations of forced conversions in Uttar Pradesh, the most prominent Indian State ruled by a BJP Chief Minister who has publicly promised a “Muslim-free” India in his election campaign. Notably, the law came into force days after the Chief Minister promised to fight against "love jihad." This is nothing but lawfare. A war fought with the help of legislation. The persecution of minorities was planned and perpetrated by lawmakers. 79 of 86 people booked under the new law are Muslims, Hindustan times reported. A total of 86 persons were booked in 16 First Information Reports (FIRs) since the Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020. According to the news, 'in a video shot by local channels, the VHP members can be seen forcibly taking the two passengers to Ujjain railway police station for questioning. En route, they are beating Shaikh (the Muslim train passenger).' Police make the passengers wait until their parents arrive from their hometown Indore, 65 kilometres away from where they were forced to leave the train. Muslims: A vulnerable minority in India Ironically, both passengers refused to register complaints, probably out of fear. Furthermore, the Railway Police did not take action against the VHP members either. The fact that the passengers did not file a police complaint and the police did not take any action against VHP members tells enough about the vulnerable circumstances the Muslims are facing in so-called secular India. In the viral video, the three VHP men can be seen thrashing Shaikh while dragging him from the AC coach of the train on the way to the police station.' Ironically, the fact that this happened in India, which is considered the largest liberal secular democracy by the outside world, is enough evidence that the world has intentionally shut its eyes from the reality of India. Indian diplomats, Bollywood, and right-wing Hindutva speakers portray India as a peaceful, tolerant, pluralistic society based on Gandhi's nonviolent philosophy. The reality is, India is the worst majoritarian state disguised as a secular democracy where minorities live in constant fear from extremist elements impacting their lives, self-respect, and property. The Sangh Parivar Leaders of the Sangh Parivar, an amalgamation of organizations run by adherents of Hindutva and supported by the ruling BJP government, are publicly calling for genocide. Vishva Hindu Parishad is one of the most active and public proponents of the genocide against Muslim minorities. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is supporting such organizations actively participating in genocide. Also, it is interesting that the VHP, whose leaders enjoy impunity by the ruling BJP government in their rhetoric against the Muslims, also enjoys a respectable position among the highest political echelons of the western world. In January 2022, Prime Minister Trudeau sent a congratulatory message to the Inauguration Ceremony of the Hindu Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Canada. Ironically, this organization that actively supports genocide in India is allowed to work freely in Canada and other western countries, and collect funds for their genocidal operations in Canada. Notably, the head of the Hindu Chamber of Commerce, Naresh Chavda, is a VHP supporter. Ironically, it is the same VHP whose leaders repeat ad nauseam calls for Muslim genocide at their public events Trudeau was not the only politician who sent messages to the newly formed Hindu Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Head of the Conservative Party, Erin O'Toole, and Ontario Premier, Doug Ford, also sent congratulatory messages to the event. Notably, Indian organizations like the VHP openly talk about killing Muslims. Still, when they operate in the western world, they work under the banner of humanitarian causes, charity or commerce, and industry. The Western world should open its eyes and stop supporting the genocidal regime of BJP and its affiliated Sangh Parivar and their foreign counterparts operating in the western world in the disguise of charities and organizations, business, and commerce. These charities are the funding sources for the future Genocide, most likely multiple genocides in India. The support VHP enjoys in the Western world is not new. According to an article on Harvard University, in 2007, the New Zealand Prime Minister attended a conference organized by VHP. According to the article, 'New Zealand's Prime Minister Helen Clark has been criticized for attending a conference organized by the Hindu Council of New Zealand in Auckland last week. The group is alleged to have strong anti-Muslim views and links with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), a Hindu radical outfit.' 'Sapna Samant, a filmmaker who attended the conference, claimed Muslims were condemned during the event, which was opened by Prime Minister Helen Clark. She questioned how Clark could have been involved in such an event, thestuff.co.nz reported.' The Western world should reevaluate its stance and attitude of ignoring India's crimes against humanity. Humiliating episodes, like dragging passengers from a train and taking them to the police station, is a new norm in India supported by laws like Love Jihad. Being silent, the world supports this anti-Muslim legislation and the genocidal regime of the BJP, which provides impunity for these crimes against humanity. |
